Unidentified Flying Objects Sighted 24 December 1953, El Cajon, California, by Naval Aviators

This document is a Spot Intelligence Report from the 18th District Office of Special Investigations regarding a sighting of ten unidentified flying objects by two U.S. Navy aviators on December 24, 1953. The pilots, attached to VP-122 at USNAS Miramar, were flying F9F-2 aircraft over El Cajon, California, when they observed the objects. The objects were described as oval, silver in color, and of an unknown size. They were flying in formation at an altitude estimated to be greater than 50,000 feet, with a speed exceeding 400 knots. The witnesses reported that the objects exhibited no visible propulsion and left no trails. The sighting lasted for approximately five minutes before the objects disappeared in level flight. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with unlimited ceiling and visibility, and little to no wind. The report notes that interception was impossible due to the speed of the objects. Although there was other air traffic in the vicinity of Brown Field, no other reports were received. The document concludes that the objects remain unidentified. The report was forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for further review, accompanied by a diagram of the formation prepared by the pilots.